4 Key Updates to the U.S. Department of Energy Consent-Based Siting Process DOE-NE | 4/25/23 |
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a revised version of its consent-based siting process. DOE will use the process as a guide to site one or more federal consolidated interim storage facilities for the nation’s spent nuclear fuel that will reduce the number of locations where spent nuclear fuel is stored in the future and ultimately ease the burden on
U.S. taxpayers. The new version builds upon DOE’s 2017 draft and includes recent public input and older public comments from the original document. It also features expert reports and lessons learned from global nuclear waste management practices over the last six years. While both versions focus on a consent-based approach to siting spent nuclear fuel facilities, there are four key updates.
Here’s what’s new. |
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1. Current focus is on federal consolidated interim storage facilities
New: DOE is focusing on siting one or more federal consolidated interim storage facilities for commercial spent nuclear fuel as a near-term action.
Old: Considered applying a consent-based
siting process to different types of nuclear waste management facilities at the same time.
Explanation: The focus on interim storage follows congressional direction to allow for the removal of spent nuclear fuel from reactor sites across the United States and promote new job opportunities in host communities.
DOE will apply lessons learned from this consent-based siting approach to future siting efforts
for consolidated interim storage capacity, a permanent disposal pathway, and the transportation infrastructure needed to move spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
DOE will also continue supporting research and development activities for future permanent disposal options. 2. A Greater emphasis on equity and environmental justice
New: Additional steps were taken to ensure the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of ALL communities to prevent any targeting of underserved and vulnerable communities moving forward.
Old: Embedded fewer considerations of equity and environmental justice in phases of the process.
Explanation: The 2017 draft included criteria related to equity and environmental justice, but DOE strengthened these elements in response to
recent public feedback.
Public input also emphasized the importance of intergenerational equity considerations on activities that will occur over long periods of time, such as the management of spent nuclear fuel. 3. Increase host communities' role in developing site-specific assessment criteria
New: Interested communities will have an opportunity to be involved in developing additional site-
specific criteria early in the process to ensure that hosting a facility aligns with their goals and interests.
Old: DOE developed initial siting considerations and screening criteria.
Explanation: This builds on the overarching approach to a better community-driven process. Individual communities can now assess
impacts on local economic development, labor market, transportation and public safety infrastructure, etc. before deciding to host a facility. 4. Expand consideration of funding opportunities to support community participation
New: The document outlines the potential use of funding opportunities and other resources in each phase of the siting process, including the implementation phase to support community involvement and collaboration in key
activities.
Old: Resources were limited to possible funding opportunities in one phase of the process.
Explanation: Additional funding opportunities are intended to support community involvement and collaboration throughout the entire process and are subject to the Annual Budget and appropriations. DOE plans to issue $26 million in awards in 2023 to provide resources for communities interested in learning more about consent-based siting,
the management of spent nuclear fuel, and interim storage facility siting considerations.
The awards will not represent a commitment to host spent nuclear fuel. NEXT STEPS
The consent-based siting process, by nature, is flexible and adaptive to be able to respond to a community’s needs and preferences. The process document will continue to be revised as DOE learns more from communities, Tribes, States, local governments, and
stakeholders. DOE plans to provide additional opportunities for public dialogue and
engagement through its current funding opportunity, upcoming informational webinars, and other activities.
LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY! |
As part of ECA's New Nuclear Initiative, the second annual ECA Forum will bring communities, SMR and advanced nuclear project developers, federal and state governments together to enable shared learning and to build the partnerships necessary to address opportunities for new nuclear development.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
September 11-13, 2023
Arlington, VA
Join
us for the 9th annual National Cleanup Workshop at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Register today to hear from senior DOE leaders, local government officials, and industry leaders about the future of DOE’s Environmental Management program. *Rates increase on July 1, 2023. If you have questions or are interested in sponsorship, please contact Autumn Bogus at abogus@la-inc.com. For more information, please visit cleanupworkshop.com. |
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Americans' Support for Nuclear Energy Highest in a Decade Gallup | 4/25/23
Americans are more supportive of using nuclear energy as a source of electricity in the U.S. now than they have been since 2012. The 55% of U.S. adults who say they “strongly” or “somewhat” favor the use of nuclear energy marks a four-percentage-point uptick from one year ago. Another 44% of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose such use.
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Throughout the
course of Gallup’s trend, Americans have generally been more amenable to the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity for the U.S. when oil prices have been high and less open to it when oil prices are low. Gallup first asked this question in 1994 and found 57% of Americans favored using nuclear energy, while 37% were opposed to its use. By 2001, when the question was next asked, views were evenly divided -- yet from 2004 through 2015, public support for the use of nuclear power again outpaced opposition, including a high of 62% in 2010. The 2016 measurement, taken at a time of relatively low gas prices, was the only one in the trend when the majority of U.S. adults expressed opposition to the use of nuclear energy. After two readings when views were divided, in 2019 and 2022, Americans now tilt once again toward supporting
nuclear energy. The latest reading, from Gallup’s annual Environment poll conducted
March 1-23, finds 25% of Americans strongly favor nuclear energy and 30% somewhat favor it, while 22% each strongly and somewhat oppose its usage. At the start of the poll’s field period, the Biden administration committed over $1 billion to help keep U.S. nuclear power plants open. President Joe Biden has said that nuclear power is a key element to his overall climate strategy of achieving 100% clean electricity in the U.S. by 2035. In addition, investing in nuclear energy has bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. Even though nuclear energy is favored by Democratic and Republican leaders, U.S. adults’ support for its use continues to diverge sharply along
party lines. While majorities of Republicans have consistently backed the use of nuclear energy since 2001, Democrats have been far less supportive of it. Currently, 62% of Republicans, 46% of Democrats and 56% of independents favor the use of nuclear energy to provide electricity in the U.S. These rates are below their high points historically. Republican support for nuclear energy was as high as 76% in 2009. Democrats also recorded their highest support, 54%, that year. Still, Democrats’ support has increased since last year, perhaps due to Biden’s recent actions on
shoring up nuclear energy. At the same time, Republicans’ and independents’ views have not changed statistically. Continue reading >> |
Check out ECA's latest report!
DISPOSAL DRIVES CLEANUP: RE-ENERGIZING MOMENTUM FOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE
This report calls on the Department of Energy to launch the
initiative to develop the actual waste disposition approaches. The Department could potentially save hundreds of billions of dollars in cleanup costs by using its available tools and implementing the report’s recommendations.
Interactive guide for communities and governments to help navigate nuclear waste cleanup The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) recently released the Guide to Successful Environmental Cleanup, an interactive online resource that provides frequently asked questions, case studies, and recommendations regarding nuclear waste cleanup. To assist local government officials, their communities, and federal agencies in deciphering the
complexities of the environmental cleanup process, ECA developed this guide to facilitate future successful cleanups. |
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories,
highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. |
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